Release coupling



July 13, 1948- R. B. COTTON TAL l 2,444,919

RELEASE COUPLING Filed Jar). 4, 1945 5MM/Mad Patented July 13, 1948 i$2,444,919' A vRELEASEooUPL'ING Robert B. cotton; Lansdowne, Pai,4'nichel-u1 fJosephRyan," United States Marinesfand iJohn J.Domoj;United1S tates Navy 1f f Application January 4, 1945,L seriai"i-o.571,342 1a-claims. (01. 244-31 e (Granted .under -the act March 3,v1883, lass amended April 30, 1928;,370fO. QnQ7`5'Z) The presentinvention lrelates Vto a releasable coupling connectingtwo lines or thelike.- andpto .1 means for releasing thecoupling, and has for Yanobject-,theprovision of -anovel and effective'coufpling of simpleconstruction `vwhich is releasable 1upon-.engagement withga buiTer-whilemoving in relation thereto to release and separate the-coupling-and thetwo linesor linefportions.

kA further object is to provide such areleasable coupling which may bereadily connected in forming the coupling/between the two lines or thelike.

'Anotherobject is the provision of releasing meansfor the couplingcomprising a buffer-sleeve or tubethrough which the linepasses and withJwhich the moving coupling forcibly engages.

Other objects and advantagesof the invention #will be apparent fromthefollowing description taken :in connection with the accompanying.drawings, which are exemplary and Ain which:

v Fig. 1 is a sectional View showing the coupling 4in separatedcondition immediatelyfollowing .en-

gagementvr with the buffer sleeve but-priorfto .the

,return actionI of the spring -which acts toyassist inthe disengagementof the coupling fromlits contact `with the -buier sleeve. Fig.2.showsithe .apparatus at the instant of engagement of :the

coupling with the buer, and-prior tothe separating action. Vf Thereleasable coupling of thepresentinvention is yparticularly suitedforuse `in ,connection with -glider towing and launching means, -forlfexample such as is -describedvin the'application -o Robert B.- Cotton,led October 253,`v 1943, Serial Nfo.v507931, now Patent No. 2,432,508ofIDecelmvfber:l6, 1947, wherein a tow line anda take-up line areconnected by a coupling releasable upon engagement with a stationaryorvxedbuier fsleevethrough which thel take-up line moves.

.The invention however, is not limited `to fthis --use.- Referring-tothedrawings, the numeralil designates la buffer sleeve or tubularl membervvthrough which a line `orthe likef2 ispassed, such as a take-up line`like that referred to inthe aforementioned application of Robert- B.Cotton relating to a glider launchingfapparatus. :The

.buffer sleeve may desirably be fixed uponthe ground-.or other launchingsurface. According -tonthe present invention the buffer comprises-vasimple tube or'sleeve the end Ia of whichv serves als. an abutment orbuffer for the hereindescribed releasable coupling. 'n

"iL-second. line 'or the like '3is designed for` at- 4tacl'imentto theline 2 by means ofthe releasa-ble coupling. :Thisfsecondlinemay ybe atowline .plunger.y

iikethatlfrferrpd'to in the said application A of RobertB. Cotton. 1 l fThe y line 2 isl provided with f a rod member 4,

r.connectedthereto by connecting memberJIa, said -rodfmemberf IIahavinga terminal4 jaw .member v5 l formed =by ai notch or recess- E l thereinproviding i a YVface f1 which may desirablygbe normal; ltoy the y:axislof thei rod member andev aface 8 at an angle to said axis. Acomplementary terminal jaw @memberji is provided on arod vmember IDconnectedfto the 2line3. VThe jaw member 9 is formed by alnotch, orrecess I.I therein providing a' face .plementarytotthe end faces I4 andI5,resp ective ly, 'of therod members III yand 4, which faces :may

rthough they--maybeinclinedthereto ifY desired.

Therod- IILis provided `withan eyeorgthe like I6 for attachment to theline or the like v,3.;..'I=he f rod zill-extenols` centrally through.vthe end; I1 of a cylinder. I8 which issecured'totherod IIJ-by"any-,suitable meanstsuch fas*l the threads I9 on the rod I0 engaging athreaded boreZU in the A lock nut or thevlike is provided'as'shown at2|. p

A platefor` plunger member 22- is received withinthe cyl'inderla andl isretained therein: and vvis limitedgin-its outward movement, by a splitsnap-or. spring lring 23 receivedin; an annular groove 24 fin. thejcylinder and protruding therefrom. y'.Thecplunger 22 has a central bore2,5 therein and isfslidablejover the endof the rodfIU. The plungermemberwhen retracted serves -asthe -releasing ymeans s on Ythe coupling:as ywill'fbe ldescribed..A

fA" shoulder v may d'esirably be provided,.onth,e rod 4 as indicated at2'I, which serves :asavretaining means which will limit the outwardmovement oi the* plunger in .forming the couplingas :indicated in Fig.l2., The shoulder .'21

may be omitted if desired, `in view of the provision .of the aspringlretaining ring 23., p

v'l'hefpltmger or plate 22 is urgedtowardthe .open endp'of-y thecylinder by ythe spring 2B mountedybetvveen vthe end I'I of thecylindervand the -The parts yareso disposed that .when1 the :plunger isyin its-advanced position, as seen in Fig.2, the plunger bore receivesand. embraces the inter-engaged members or jaws 5 and-9 ofthecouplinganci, vvforrnsga ksecure* coupling. v`vThe cyl- -i-nderfwith:its spring.v retaining. ring -is extended Vor thereion sumcientlybeyond the end of the rod l so that the plate or plunger may embrace theinterengaging jaws as well as portions of both rods I0 and 4 adjacentthe jaws.

In the operation-vof` the device as indicated in Fig. 2, the couplingcomprising the coupled members, and the attached lines or the like aremoving with the line 2 passing into and through the; :r

buier sleeve l, and the coupling is about t gage the end of the buersleeve. l L Y Upon the forcible engagement-of the cou with the end ofthe bufiersleeye velocity of the coupled lines, the plunger or line pactplate 22 is depressed the buifer sleeve l end, as indicated in Fig. 1,against `the action `of' the spring 26, until the inter-engaged surfacesof the jaws and 9 are uncovered by the retracted plunger, whereupon Ithecouplinglisfreleased by separation and disengagement o'the jaws and 5rods, under the pull on the rod 4 which moves "onward into the sleeve l.At the same time the spring pressed plunger pushesiagainstftheven'd.ofthe' buff er 4sleeve land "assists in the disengagement; so thatthe'linelor the like 3--with its attached cylinder 'and contents isApushed away from the buffer sleeve. The plunger then again assumes theposition in the cylinderras indicated in Fig. 2 except-that theline 2and its jaw 5 are The rod 4 `and its line 2may desirably be stopped,after being pulled intofthesleeve, by

abutments 28 and 29 provided on the sleeveand on the rod 4 respectively.f f f `To establish the coupling, the

'forwardly out of the buffer` sleeve l and its jaw 5 is forced againstVthe plungerl22 adjacentthe Vbore 25 and adjacent the end i4' of. the jawk9 until itfcanfbe 4dropped laterally Tinto engagement with thejaw` `9.The spring pressed plunger -22 will then advance 'and embrace theinterengaged members to secure the coupling, as indicated in Fig32.

Itwill be apparent that the'partstx'nayv be' designed fand-constructedfor `release operation at 'any given velocity of the-lineor the like f2moving into the xedbuflera'f f i Althougn'butone embodiment of the'invention i-s shown and described, itfwill be apparent that changes inthesize, shape; and arrange- :ment of parts may be made withoutdeparting "from the spirit and scoperof the-invention as :defined by theappended claims. AIt will be apparent also that device-'of v.the presentVinvention may be used for various purposes, and that it is not to belimited to any particular use.

` The invention described Y"herein may'fbe manuiactured and used by: or1for the Government of the United States of America for governmentalpurposes Y without the payment Y of "any yroyalties.

f What is claimed is: A l. A coupling connecting two lines or' the like,a buer through which one of the linespasses,

'and meansl on said 4cou'plingto release it when `and means on saidcoupling to release it when the line is moved through the buffer so asto cause the coupling to strike the buier, and resilient means in thecoupling, said resilient means acting tof-separate-a portionbffsaidcoupling from 3. A coupling connecting two orthe like,

i a fixed buffer tube through which one of the lines passesand means onsaid coupling to release it *when'l the line is moved through the buffertube i sof-,as lto-` cause ,this coupling to strike the proxiunite endof V the-i'lxed buffer which actuates the releasing means on thecoupling, sai-d buffer tube t having an abutment thereon adjacent itsother l5 abutment to limit passage of said member and line through saidXed buier tube following release ofthe coupling.

` Ail.y AAreleasalflle coupling connecting two line portions or thelike, comprising inter-engageable membersv connectedlone to each lineportion, re-

leasing means on the-coupling lcomprising a plate having av borereceivingone of saidlmembers and slidable thereon, a cylinderY receivingand secured ori-said member and slidably receiving said plate, springmeans between said' plate`r` and cylinder urging said plate to overlieand embrace the inter-'engaging mem-bers, and4` retaining meansiorlimiting thez movement of said slidvable plate outwardly of-saidfcylinderl while permitting outward movement ofthe plate to overlieand embrace the interengaging members.

5. A releasable lcoupling connecting two line portions or-the like,comprising inter-engageable Ymembers connected one to each-'lineportion, re-

leasing means'onthe coupling comprising a plate having a borereceiving'one of-said members and slidable thereon; a `cylinderreceiving and secured on said member'and slidably receiving said plate,spring means between said' platev and'4 cylinder urging said plate' tooverlie'and embrace the intereengaging-members.and retaining means onsaid cylinder -for limitingthe'movemen't ofsaid slidable plate outwardlyof said cylinder while permittin'gcutward'movement of the-plate tooverlie and embrace the inter-engaging members.

6. -A releasable coupling connecting ltwo line portions 1 o'r-'the'like,"f"comprising inter-engageable members connected one to eachlineportiom-releasing means' on the coupling 'comprising alplate 4havinga bore receiving one of said members and slidable thereon,r a cylinderreceiving' and' secured onsaidmember and slidably receiving said plate;spring means between said-plate and'cylinder urging said plate tooverlie and embrace the inter-'engaging members, and retaining means onsaid cylinder -for limitingl the movement-of said slidable plate-outwardly kof said cylinder while permitting/1 outward movement of 'theplate to overlie and embrace the inter-engaging members, said retainingmean-s comprising a groove in'the bore of the cylinder and a springretaining ring in said groove andl protruding therefrom to limitoutwardfmovement of said slidableplate.- i

'v1-4'?. A relea'sable 2coupling connectingtwo line portions or thelike,comprising rods' connected one t'o each line, each rod having a ljawforengaging the jaw of the other rod,ireleasing' -means on the couplingcomprising a plate member'hav- -ing a'bore'rece'ivingione of said rodsandslidable 'thereon-a cylinder 'receiving and secured' on said rod andslidably receiving s'aid plate,f'sprin`g means rbetween said e plate andcylinder urging saidplate toward'the' ja'w of saidrod,f'andy re'-taining means for limiting the movement of said U slidable plateoutwardly of said cylinder and rod, while permitting outward movement ofthe plate to overlie and embrace the inter-engaging jaws.

8. A releasable coupling connecting two line portions or the like,comprising rods connected one to each line, each rod having a jaw forengaging the jaw of the other rod, releasing means on the couplingcomprising a plate member having a bore receiving one of said rods andslidable thereon, a cylinder receiving and secured on said rod andslidably receiving said plate, spring means between said plate andcylinder urging said plate toward the jaw of said rod, and retainingmeans on the cylinder for limiting the movement of said slidable plateoutwardly of said cylinder and rod, said cylinder with its retainingmeans thereon extending beyond the end of the rod suiciently to permitthe slidable plate member to overlie and embrace the inter-engaging jawsand adjacent portions of the rods.

9. A releasable coupling connecting two line portions or the like,comprising rods connected one to each line, each rod having a jaw forengaging the jaw of the other rod, said jaws being formed by recesses inthe rods providing a surface in each rod inclined to the axis of the rodand complementary to the inclined surface on the other rod, releasingmeans on the coupling comprising a plate member having a bore receivingone of said rods and slidable thereon, a cylinder receiving and -securedon said rod and slidably receiving said plate, spring means between saidplate and cylinder urging said plate toward the jaw of said rod, andretaining means for limiting the movement of said slidable plateoutwardly of said cylinder and rod, while permitting outward movement ofthe plate to overlie and embrace the inter-engaging jaws.

10. A releasable coupling connecting two line portions or the like,comprising rods connected one to each line, each rod having a jaw forengaging the jaw of the other rod, said jaws being formed by recesses inthe rods providing a surface in ea-ch rod inclined to the axis of therod and complementary to the inclined surface on the other rod, and saidjaws having other complementary surfaces dispo-sed substantiallytransversely of the axis of the rods, releasing means on the couplingcomprising a plate member having a bore receiving one of said rods andslidable thereon, a cylinder receiving and secured on said rod andslidably receiving said plate, spring means between said plate andcylinder urging said plate toward the jaw of said rod, and retainingmeans for limiting the movement of said v slidable plate outwardly ofsaid cylinder and rod, While permitting outward movement of the plate tooverlie and embrace the inter-engaging jaws.

11. A releasable coupling connecting two line portions or the like,comprising inter-engageable members connected one to each line portion,releasing means on the coupling comprising a plate having a borereceiving one of said members and slidable thereon, a cylinder receivingand secured on said member and slidably receiving said plate, springmeans between said plate and cylinder urging said plate to overlie andembrace the interengaging members, and retaining means for limiting themovement of said slidable plate outwardly of said cylinder whilepermitting outward movement of the plate to overlie and embrace theinterengaged members, said retaining means comprising a shoulder on theother of said members in rear of its jaw, for engaging the said slidableplate.

12. A coupling connecting two lines or the like, a buffer through whichone olf the lines passes, and means on said coupling to release it whenthe line is moved through the buffer so as to cause the coupling tostrike the buffer, and resilient means in the coupling, said resilientmeans engaging said release means and acting to separate a portion ofsaid coupling from said buffer upon release of the coupling.

13. A coupling connecting two lines or the like,

a buffer through which one of the lines passes, and means on saidcoupling to release it when the line is moved through the buffer so asto cause the coupling to strike the buier, said coupling comprisinginter-engaging members connected one to each line, a cylindersurrounding and mounted on one of said members, said releasing meansincluding a plunger slidably received on said member and in saidcylinder, retaining means for said slidable plunger, and spring meansdisposed to urge said slidable plunger outwardly of said cylinder toembrace said inter-engaging members.

ROBERT B. COTTON.

MCI-IARD JOSEPH RYAN.

JOHN J. DOMOJ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 'of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 867,3112 Schutz Oct. 1, 19071,719,144 Stokes July 2, 1929 1,729,029 Castro Sept. 24, 1929 1,752,010Lamkey Mar. 25, 1930 2,111,303 Switlik Mar. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 316,583 Germany Nov. 29, 1919

